Comments on: FHP Seeks Man For Illegally Rebuiding, Selling Cars

By: Carl

Carl — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 18:46:10 +0000

Grand Locust, You need to read Mr. Lunsford’s post. I started doing bodywork in 1969, I became self employed in my own shop in 1971. I just recently retired. I had and Escambia County License, I was registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that oversees Auto repairs. I was also registered with and inspected by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. All of this cost less than $100 per year. What is the name of the “auto lobby” you speak of? I have never heard of one. If you want to sell cars, go buy a license, nobody is stopping you. But that is not the main problem with Mr. Jacquet. He was selling cars that had been total losses, either from water damage or collision, and circumventing the legal requirements needed to do so. He was selling crap to unsuspecting people.

By: Carl

Carl — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 01:18:22 +0000

Scott Lunsford, thanks for the information. I have one thing to mention. Carfax isn’t a flawless source. You are not required to report damage to Carfax. Insurance companies do not, because it would lower the value of a repaired vehicle which could be used to press a diminished value claim. The same with an owner, they do not want to lose value in their vehicle.. You should still look a used vehicle over carefully.

By: Grand Locust

Grand Locust — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 22:26:56 +0000

Carl it is not an apple to oranges comparison. You see the auto lobby does not want independent contractors working to make a living as competition to their monopoly on used car sales. Why three cars? Why not twenty? The answer is simple. The criminal justice system is rigged by folks having undue influence on our legislators. Buying a used car is a risk. Whether you buy it at a dealer or from Joe down the block. So If I want to work on trailers, RVs, or autos it is playing the arbitrary game of who bought the legislators to make me a criminal. This guy lost, but society loses when you take the incentive for folks to work on marginal cars and put them back on the road. This is simply a monopoly turning competitors into criminals. shameful

By: Scott Lunsford

Scott Lunsford — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:33:20 +0000

The State of Florida and federal government have been combating title, odometer and other motor vehicle fraud for years and the best tactic is an informed buyer.

Online tools such as NICB.org and vehicle history.gov are easy to use tools to research a vehicles history. A Florida company, ADD123.com offers a low cost NMVITIS check and NICB is free. I suggest a combination of these tools and the Carfax that dealers use daily. Remember, no online tool is 100 % foolproof, common sense and careful inspection of the vehicle cannot be stressed enough.

Florida statute prohibits the purchase and sale of automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles and mobile homes without a Florida motor Vehicle Dealer license. the statute most often misquoted is the three-vehicle rule.

Florida statute 320.271(c) provides “Any person who buys, sells, or deals in three or more motor vehicles in any 12-month period or who offers or displays for sale three or more motor vehicles in any 12-month period shall be prima facie presumed to be engaged in such business.” .

If a person purchases a single vehicle with the intent to re-sell, they need a Florida Dealer license. This statute in no way prohibits a person or company from disposing of excess or end of life vehicles, provided they are not unlawfully displayed for sale.

The purpose of DMV enforcement is to protect consumers from unscrupulous dealers who prey on victims. Florida requires a surety bond, liability insurance and has a robust consumer complaint process o protect consumers who suffer a loss. While the regulatory programs are often bashed, they are the first place consumers seek assistance after purchasing such a vehicle.

Pensacola is home to several local dealerships who rebuild and offer these vehicles for sale. They work with DMV to properly document the repairs made and they comply with Florida statute by informing the purchaser of the rebuilt status before the sale is finalized.

By: Carl

Carl — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 02:37:14 +0000

I am really surprised at those of you taking up for this scam artist. Maybe if it was you or your child that bought this possible death trap, you would feel differently. Once they go under water, especially salt water, they are worthless. It would be doubtful if the Air Bags would even work. Then it starts mildewing, stinking and rotting.
Grand Locust, you are comparing apples to oranges, One RV that wasn’t totaled compared to 15 legally totaled vehicles. If he did the crime, he definitely needs to do the time.
Jarhead, are you saying the car dealers on 29 don’t have business licenses? Are you saying they knowingly repaired water damaged cars and sold them?

By: Avis

Avis — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:15:49 +0000

Somebody didn’t get their cut.

By: PackRat

PackRat — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:09:27 +0000

So, this guy figures out how to support himself using his own hands, skills, and inginuity. By all means, lock him up we can’t have that. Someone sold a car without disclosing all its flaws, OMG.

By: Jeb

Jeb — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:02:25 +0000

State of florida you can only sell i believe 3 automobiles a year without a dealer’s lisence

By: Jarhead

Jarhead — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:02:15 +0000

Based on this “violation”, couldn’t you lock up most of those folks along Hwy 29 in that stretch called Car City?

By: Jeremy Sasser

Jeremy Sasser — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 23:41:16 +0000

Doug, it’s because Florida law says that if you sell 3 or more cars within a 1 year time frame, you have to have a dealers license. It doesn’t matter where you sell them, the determination is where you live. You could sell them all on EBay and still need a dealers license.